Fabulous Fungi

 Fungus-- normally people think of mushrooms and such, but as you can see fungi can can come in a wide variety of shapes,colors, and sizes.Fungi aren't plants so the can't make their own food. They leech off roots and rotting vegetation, nutrients that are already there that just need to be broken down. One of these pictures is of an enormous rose fungus,named so for obvious reasons, it was four times the size of a human hand.The other fungi were unidentified. All of these pictures were taken at the Prince William Forest Park in Washington D.C.

Things aren't always what they seem...

Natural fires; some say they are a curse, but strangely, without them many of the pine forests of the southeast wouldn't have grown. These fires burn away the undergrowth and allow young pines to get a head start. Certain species of pine tree can't even germinate without fires. The cones open after the heat of the fire and drop their seeds unto the newly cleared forest floor, where the nutrient rich soil will have been enhanced with the ashes of the competing undergrowth. 

     It may not seem like it, but most animals that live in and around the pines will be safe from the fire, because they have evolved ways to escape the heat of the blaze. Box turtles bury themselves into the forest floor,  snakes lizards, toads, mice ,and frogs retreat to burrows,  and faster animals simply run or fly to escape the fire. Also, their food supply will regrow quickly.   Within a few weeks young pines, palmettos , and other such plants will have put on new growth, just as it has happened for thousands of years. 

This picture is of the Gulf Coast fire currently happening at Orange Beach, Al.  This was started by a careless camper, however it will benefit the forest because it is getting rid of old hurricane debris.  It is inconvenient for beach goers, but it will be ok in the long run.  (It is currently under control.).  Warning:  Never leave your grill or heat source unattended, especially during droughts.

Alligator - Modern Day Dinosaur

 From eight inches long and a few ounces to 10 feet long and 500 pounds, that's the life of the American alligator. It's one of the largest reptiles in North America with a bite force of up to 2000 psi; the jaws of death to any animal unlucky enough to be caught in them. Surprisingly, these same jaws can tenderly be used to take its babies to the water when they hatch and protect them for a year or more. They can lay up to 100 eggs and will guard them fiercely against any and all intruders.The nest temperature regulates how many males or females are in a nest, cooler temperatures equal more females, warmer, more males. This awesome reptile can reach a maximum length and weight of 14 feet and more than a 1000 lbs, however, few ever reach that size, but for those who do, they have no predators, except for man.  These pictures were taken at Alligator Alley in Summerdale, AL, a very interesting place to visit.

Trees

They say the best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago, and the the second best time is today. Trees make oxygen, provide shade, and make homes for birds, squirrels, and lots and lots of insects. They make fruit, nuts, and in some cases maple syrup. My family and I have planted hundreds of trees in our yard and I encourage other people to plant trees too.  The tree in this photo is in Canada, and is a type of conifer.  My three favorite types of tree are the weeping willow, the Douglas fir and the giant sequoia.  Please post yours!

 These are two baby flying squirrels we raised and released after my older brother found them last winter.They had  fallen from their nest and would have frozen to death if he hadn't rescued them .We could play with them more at night because the flying squirrel is a nocturnal species.  When we first got them we had to feed them a puppy formula mixture through a medicine dropper, and they were thirsty little critters! (This was recommended by our vet.)  After a few weeks, we fed them nuts and seeds like they naturally would eat in the wild. It was fun to watch them nibble away until the nut was gone or they were full. This went on for a couple of months, and then, when they were big enough, we found a nice tree in our yard and let them go.

Little Miracles

Do you see the spider in this picture? Look closely to the right of the brown ball in the center. The brown ball is the egg sac of a female Green Lynx spider, who is guarding it closely. This shows that even arachnids are capable of parental care. However, if an unlucky cricket, fly,or other small insect wanders too close, this skilled hunter will pounce on it like a cat, hence the name. This little miracle was found in my backyard fence row. I identified it using my book, Expert Guide, Mini Monsters: Natures Tiniest and Most Terrifying Creatures.

This is a Polyphemus moth I raised from a caterpillar. I found it on a oak tree while gathering leaves for some other caterpillars. I took it to school at the beginning of the school year, and it hatched seven months later. When it emerged from its silky cocoon, it had a 5 - 5 1/2 inch wingspan, which is what makes this moth species  the second largest in North America. As you can see its also very beautiful, with is gorgeous spots and stripes.It was amazing to watch it fly away into the blue,and, just before it left, it stopped, turned around, and hovered 30 feet away, and seemed to say goodbye. It was amazing. 

My turtles

These are two of seven hybrid slider turtles who I gave a head start on life by raising them for a couple of years. We released them a few years ago. I learned that they were hybrids of red eared and yellow bellied sliders in the book "Turtles and Tortoises of the Southeast."  Please don't take turtles from their nests.  (We dug their nest up accidentally). If you see a baby turtle, make sure it gets across the road, but otherwise leave it to nature.  Little things like this make all the difference in nature. They were very entertaining to watch, and it was satisfying to watch them return to their parents' pond.

First Post

With this blog, I intend to help others learn to respect nature and to do things to help it.  I will discuss different things you can do at home and in public to help nature and get other people excited about it too.  I'll post photos of interesting occurences in nature in the area around where I live.  First Post. Dylan Taylor June 19, 2011